The worst part for me about being a trucker

[Droopy]

You are expected to be able to do your job at any time of day.

That means that if your 10 hour break is up at 3 AM you are expected to be able to start working at that time, biological clock be damned.

I've been off for a couple of days while my truck is in the shop for repairs. My truck was supposed to be ready at around noon today and I was supposed to go to work then. So I slept in today.

The truck is not ready. My boss tells me that it will be ready some time this afternoon. So I go home and take a nap. I just got a call from him. He wants me to come in at 3 AM and drive in someone else's truck 150 miles to deliver a load.

How the hell am I going to get to sleep at 7 PM? I have some over the counter sleeping pills, but I don't know if that's going to work.

I wish I didn't need sleep.

Thanks for listening to my little, whiny rant. You may now resume your regularly scheduled lounging.

[DS1]

1. I like it when you guys do the brake-light flashy thing at me

when I flash the high-beams to let you know you're clear. It makes me feel all truckerly, and want to put bumpernuts on my car :D

As for getting to sleep at 7 pm, go rent "Dark City" put it on at 6:30. ;-)

[Droopy]

2. Haha

All you need is some of these on mud flaps for your car:

[graywarrior]

4. Me too. I'm such a trucker groupie on long car trips.

Hey, I'll be driving up 95 from FL to NH next month. Flash me, baby.

[Droopy]

7. Truckers dig kind and courteous four wheelers

There are just so many people out there that don't know how to drive around trucks and when somebdy rolls along that understands it can help make our day better.

[trof]

14. Miz t. and I do our best, too.

On our frequent road trips from coastal Alabama to Boston we keep in mind that we're on a more-or-less "pleasure" trip and you guys are at work, earning your livings.

I-81 in VA is especially busy with freight haulers. I try to stay out of the way as much as possible and cut all the slack I can.

[Book Lover]

17. OK, so I'm asking

What should I do and not do on the road?

[Droopy]

18. Do not cut off a trucker

Do not speed up when a trucker is trying to pass unless you plan on maintaining that speed.

Do not travel along side a truck for an extended period of time. You may be in a blind spot and get squished.

Try not to pass on the right. I realize that is not always practical, but try not to do it unless you need to.

Give a trucker as much room as you can.

Remember, when something goes wrong with a truck it can be extremely dangerous. I've seen a truck with 5000 dollars worth of body damage because he was traveling along side another truck when one of that truck's tires exploded. Imasgine what that would do to your car or a motrcyclist.

Don't flip a trucker off. He/she may lose control of his/her truck in a fit of laughter. :)

[Book Lover]

22. A checklist I can handle. Thanks!

Is it OK to speed up to pass, then drive at cruising speed 20 or so feet ahead of the truck?

[Droopy]

23. As long as you are pulling away from the truck

You don't want to ride that close to the front of a truck. A good trucker will back off of your ass if she/he is riding to close to you. Either that or pass you.

I'm off to bed. I hope you found my comments useful.

[Book Lover]

24. Very useful.

Thanks a lot!

[auntAgonist]

3. Some things never change eh Droopy?

Biological clock be damned and how about those 'hot'loads that just have to be there! You deliver on time or sooner and they tell you to drop the trailer out back. Nothing hot there.

kick back and read a book, take a nap!

truck safely

aA

[Droopy]

5. You know it, aA

I think I'll take your's and DS1's suggestions for sleep. I have a psychology text book around here somewhere. I'll pop three of them sleeping pills and crack open the book.

[auntAgonist]

8. don't forget to set the alarm!!!!!

With my luck it would be the one time where I'd sleep for 14 hours straight. Don't want to be late.

aA

[Droopy]

10. I'll have that thing cranked up full blast

I still might sleep through it. :)

[Shine]

6. that sucks, bud.

I'd be cranky, too, if I didn't get enough sleep. You have every right to whine. :hug:

[Droopy]

9. I have a hell of a time getting out of bed before 7 AM.

That's just the way my body works. To hell with it. If the load is late it's late. Everybody will survive.

[Shine]

12. Good on ya, gotta keep the right perspective.

we're not talkin' Life and Death, here, afterall....

:hi: get some rest. Sweet dreams...

[trof]

11. Man, can I empathize. Been there, done that, got the T shirt.

Airline pilot for 30+ years.
International was the worst.
Eastbound was worse than westbound.

6 a.m. wake-up call in Amsterdam.
Midnight in your head.
Coffee and cigarettes got me through it for many years.
The older I got, the harder it was.
I don't miss it even a teeny bit.


Like we used to say "Just try to keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down."
Good luck.
:hi:

[Droopy]

13. Thanks, trof

A truck is a lot of responsibility. I can't imagine having the same work schedule and flying a plane.

[trof]

15. Imagine driving in the middle of a 10 mile "bubble".

Your closest traffic is always 5 miles away.
In many ways airplanes are easier than trucks.

[Random_Australian]

16. hugs, dear Droopy

:hug::hug:

[Droopy]

19. Thanks RA

We can always use more hugs. :hug:

[no name no slogan]

20. Best of luck on the sleep, amigo

I have similar problems with insomnia due to the medications I take. I'm in the process of kicking Ambien and consequently a real good night's sleep is hard to come by.

Rest up, and have a safe trip.

[Droopy]

21. I'm waiting for the sleeping pills to kick in

and I haven't had any caffiene in a couple of hours so I think I'm going to be ok. That damn boss of my owes me, though. Not only for this, but I've alaways bailed him out when he needs help.